Visitors - Press

Protagonists

Manolo De Giorgi

architect and essayist

Antonio Di Cecco

photographer

Nicola Di Battista

editor of domus magazine

Claudia Durastanti

writer

diverserighestudio

architecture firm

biographical notesSimone Gheduzzi, Nicola Rimondi and Gabriele Sorichetti founded the architecture practice diverserighestudio in Bologna in 2003. In 2011 they were amongst the founding partners of lasantabarbara. Since 2011 they have been engaged as contract lecturers at the Architecture Faculty of the University of Ferrara.

The aim of their multidisciplinary research is to bring together different areas of knowledge and to forge a continuous dialogue between theory and architectural practice. They see composition as a dynamic relationship between theme and functional programme, a relational aesthetic that reveals hidden tools capable of generating concrete ideas. They follow a strict methodology in exploring the relationship with form, concentrating on aspects relating to the metaphor of composition. They approach an executive project as part of a process of research and development, striving towards an ideal of quality that incorporates the environment into a positive vision of reality.

They exhibited in the Italian Pavilions at the London Festival of Architecture 2008, at the World Expo in Shanghai and at the 12th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition. They have also presented their work through a number of personal and collective lectures given in Italy and abroad. The works and projects carried out by the practice have been featured in architecture magazines and exhibition catalogues. In January 2013 they released a monograph entitled diverserighestudio – casalogica, published by Forma Edizioni in the ONE collection, edited by Laura Andreini and Andrea Mannocci and with a critique by Luca Molinari.

They have won a number of major awards, including the International Sustainable Architecture Award 2007, an Honourable Mention at the Arches Award 2008, the NIB Award 2012 for best Under 40 Architecture Practice, the Tiles of Italy Award 2014, and the Premio Urbanistica 2015. They were also finalists in the Renzo Piano Foundation award 2013 and were shortlisted for the Inarch III, IV and V Edition awards. In 2016 they received a Special Mention in the A+ Award.

Carlo Maria Drago

Biographical notesCarlo Maria Drago has worked at IBM since 1985 where he currently covers the role of Business Development Executive for the Energy & Utilities sector, Italy.

In this position he is responsible for identifying the market trends and scenario and consequently gearing IBM's strategy in this sector, towards the development of solutions and services aimed at energy & utility companies.

Working side by side the most important Utilities companies both at home and abroad have allowed Carlo Maria to gain profound expertise in this sector. He also has a strong technological background which allows him to interact with companies at all managerial levels and within different project areas.In the past ten years, Carlo Drago has been particularly involved in the topics of Smart Grids and the evolution of the market following the establishment of the electrical energy produced from renewable sources, starting in 2003 with the launch of the new solution of Advanced Meter Management, the installation of which in Italy has enabled a radical transformation for electric companies. Between 2005 and 2009 he extended his business activities at international level, meeting over 60 executive clients to discuss the topics of Smart Metering and Smart Grid, offering advisory services and training sessions on these topics and concluding an important project in Malta, which is now a considered a benchmark in this field.

He graduated in civil engineering at the University of Rome and obtained a Master in Project Management at the PMI (Project Management Institute), as well as the IBM internal certification.He has lectured at numerous conventions and events in the Energy sector and takes part in various national and international research projects.

Riccardo Dalisi

Biographical notesBorn in 1931 in Potenza, Riccardo Dalisi has been professor in Design at the Facoltà di Architettura of the University of Naples “Federico II”. He has also been director of the Scuola di Specializzazione in Disegno Industriale at the same Faculty.In the 70’s, together with Ettore Sottsass, Alessandro Mendini, Andrea Branzi and others, he was co-founder of the Global Tools, an anti-school of Architecture and Design which was a frontier post for all those who were engaged in the avant-garde movement of the “Radical Architecture”.Always engaged in social challenges (we remind the crucial initiatives in “neighbourhood participation” in Naples: with the children in the Rione Traiano quarter, with the elder people in the Ponticelli quarter, and, more recently, with young people in the Rione Sanità), RD has always kept research and education strictly linked in both fields of architecture and industrial design; in recent years, he has more and more taken art as the main path of his life.In 1981 he won the Compasso d’oro for his research on the Neapolitan coffee maker.In the latest 30 years he has been increasing his work of connecting the different fields of academic research, architecture, industrial design, sculpture, painting, art and articraft, always focussing on human development through dialogue and all the creative energy that comes from it.In 2010, after a long time research he has promoted the first edition of the Premio Compasso di Latta, an award for a new research in industrial design based on human and environmental sustainability and on the decrease issues.In 2012 his book Water dueO won the "Winner of Green Dot Awards" in Los Angeles for sustainability.

His work as an architect, designer, sculptor and painter has shown in many personal exhibitions in Italy and abroad. Among these we remind: the Biennale of Venice, the Triennale of Milan, the MoMa of New York, the Biennial of Chicago, the Design Museum of Denver, the Museum of Copenaghen, the Contemporary Art Museum of Saloniki, at the Palazzo Reale di Napoli, at the Galleria Lucio Amelio in Naples, the Fondation Cartier in Paris, the Decorative Arts Museum of Montreal, the Tabak Museum in Wien, the Zitadelle Spandau Museum in Berlin, at the Castel dell’Ovo in Naples.In 2012 his book Water dueO won the "Winner of Green Dot Awards" for sustainability.

João Luís Carrilho da Graça

Architect

João Luís Carrilho da Graça, architect, graduated from Escola Superior de Belas Artes de Lisboa in 1977, the year he initiated his professional practice.Lecturer at the School of Architecture of the Technical University of Lisbon between 1977 and 1992. Professor at the Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa from 2001 to 2010 and at the Universidade de Évora since 2005. Hheaded the architecture department at both institutions until 2010. Guest lecturer at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la Universidad de Navarra in 2005, 2007 and 2010. Invited to lecture in seminars and conferences at several international universities and institutions.His body of work has been recognized with several awards, including: the title of “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Republic in 2010; the “Prémio Pessoa” in 2008, the “Luzboa” Award in 2004 at Lisbon’s first International Light Art Biennale, the “order of merit” by the Portuguese Republic in 1999 and the “Aica Award” by the International Association of Art Critics in 1992.Distinguished with the “AIT Aaward 2012 - transportation” for the pedestrian bridge over the Carpinteira stream, the “Piranesi Prix de Rome” prize in 2010 for the musealization of the “Praça Nova” archeological site at “Castelo de São Jorge”, the “FAD” prize in 1999 and the “Valmor” prize in 1998 for the knowledge of the seas pavilion at Lisbon Expo ’98; the “Secil” prize in 1994 for the Higher School of Social Communication (Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa), and nominations for the “Mies Van Der Rohe” European Architecture Award in 1990, 1992, 1994, 2009, 2010 and 2011, the latter for both the pedestrian bridge over the Carpinteira stream and the musealization of the “Praça Nova” archeological site at “Castelo de São Jorge”.In 2010 the project Candeias’ House was part of the Portuguese official representation, “no place like - 4 houses 4 films”, at the 12th international architecture exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia “people meet in architecture”.

Fortunato Della Guerra

Fortunato Della Guerra, who graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Florence University in 1988, is Director General of INRES, the National Institute of Consulting, Design and Engineering for the design of commercial facilities based in Sesto Fiorentino (FI). The institute has the function of safeguarding structural and technological innovation and at the same time serves as a reference point for the purchase of manufacturing goods and higher-level services. In these areas, it oversees consistency with respect to environmental commitment, implementing and evaluating the various initiatives and activities relevant to this issue. In this context, INRES has the task of both introducing innovation and promoting existing good practices. INRES is responsible for functional, architectural, building and utility design for points of sale and ICT infrastructures for cooperatives at a national level, and has been involved in the construction of more than 600,000 square metres of sales area in the last ten years.

Paola Di Silvestro

Mapei SpA

Paola Di Silvestro, a graduate in Building Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Milan, joined the Technical Assistance department of Mapei in 2000. She is a member of the working group UNI-GL3/SC3 on “resilient, textile and laminate floor coverings” and provides expert support to UNI-GL8/SC3 “floor supports (bases)” and UNI GL4/SC3 “ceramic flooring and adhesives for ceramic wall coverings” within the framework of the technical commission on “products, processes and systems for building”. She is also a member of UNI-GL5 “non-structural wood” within the framework of the technical commission on “wood”.

Michele De Lucchi

Architect and designer

Michele De Lucchi was born in 1951 in Ferrara and graduated in architecture in Florence. During the period of radical and experimental architecture he was a prominent figure in movements like Cavart, Alchymia and Memphis. De Lucchi has designed lamps and furniture for the most known Italian and European companies. For Olivetti he has been Director of Design from 1992 to 2002 and he has elaborated various personal theories on the evolution of the workplace. He has developed experimental projects for Compaq Computers, Philips, Siemens and Vitra.His architectural designs have been mainly for office buildings in Japan for NTT, in Germany for Deutsche Bank, in Switzerland for Novartis, and in Italy for Enel, Olivetti, Piaggio, Poste Italiane, Telecom Italia. In 1999 he has been appointed to renovate some of ENEL's (the Italian Electricity Company) power plants. For Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bundesbahn, Enel, Poste Italine, Telecom Italia, Hera, Intesa Sanpaolo and at other Italian and foreign banks he has collaborated to the evolution of the corporate image, introducing technical and aesthetic innovation into the working environments.He has taken care of numerous art and design exhibitions and has planned buildings for museums as Triennale di Milano, Palazzo delle Esposizioni di Roma and Neues Museum Berlin.His professional work has always gone side-by-side with a personal exploration of architecture, design, technology and crafts.In 1990 he founded Produzione Privata, a small-scale concern through which Michele De Lucchi designs products that are made using artisan techniques and crafts.Completed the Franco Parenti Theater renewal in Milan, he is now working on Venezia Fondazione Cini, on Milan Castello Sforzesco Museum on the refurbishment and renewal and many important buildings and urban areas renewal in Italy and abroad.His Studio, aMDL S.r.l., has its offices in Milan and Rome.In 2003 the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris has acquired a considerable number of his works. Selections of his products are exhibited in the most important design Museums in Europe, United States and Japan.In 2000 he was appointed Officer of Italian Republic by President Ciampi, for services to design and architecture.In 2001 he has been nominated Ordinary Professor at the Design and Art Faculty at the University in Venice.In 2006 he received the Honorary Doctorate from Kingston University, for his contribution to “living quality”.In 2008 he has been nominated Ordinary Professor at the Design Faculty of the Politecnico of Milan and Member of the Accademia Nazionale di San Luca in Rome.

Ian Davis

Architect

Professor Ian Davis, a British Architect, has specialised in Shelter and Reconstruction following Disasters since 1972. He edited the first UN guidelines on ‘Shelter after Disaster’ and is currently part of a team developing Guidelines for the World Bank in Washington on Housing Reconstruction. He has visited over forty countries to provide advice to Governments, the United Nations, Non Governmental Agencies and the Private Sector on ways to reduce disaster risks and promote effective recovery. In 1996 he became the first British Citizen to be awarded the United Nations Sasakawa Award for his contribution to reducing international disaster risks. He has visited Italy on many occasions to lecture in various universities and to study earthquake situations in Sicily, Basilicata and Friuli. He has written or edited 16 books on Disaster Planning and is currently visiting Professor in Disaster Management in Cranfield, Oxford Brookes and Kyoto University.

Veronica Dal Buono

Researcher at Ferrara Architecture Faculty

Architect, researcher in Architecture Technology at Faculty of Architecture of Ferrara. Combining an interest in the contemporary project, materials application technologies, and project communication and representation, her research activity focuses in particular on the relationship between humans and materials with particular emphasis on heavy clay products, ceramic, stone and artificial materials that emulate natural stone.

Carla Di Francesco

Superintendent for artistic heritage Emilia Romagna

Biographical notesRegional Director for Cultural and Landscape Heritage of Emilia Romagna, Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities.She has held analogous positions in the Lombardy region and as Superintendent for the Architectural and Landscape Heritage of Milan. She has many years of experience as an architect at the Superintendence of Ravenna and Ferrara, where she has carried through numerous restoration projects. She is a contract lecturer at the faculty of architecture of the University of Bologna at Cesena and Ferrara.

Sandra Dei Svaldi

Larco Icos

Biographical notesEngineer, senior researcher at ICIE, Institute for applied research and technology transfer. Since 1991 she has participated in the creation, design and management of complex projects., in collaboration with research institutions and companies operating in the construction industry.On behalf of the European Commission has carried out studies on the diffusion of innovative energy technologies. As the head of the national lines of research has followed the development and application of experimental building technologies and innovative plant designed to ensure comfort and well-being in confined spaces and sustainable energy in buildings.She is responsible since 2006, within the ambit of two Laboratories of the High Technology Network of the Region of Emilia Romagna, Larco Icos and Lisea, for research lines that develop studies on new buildings envelope components and technologies, on new plants technologies and on integration of buildings envelope and equipments for the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings.She is currently responsible for coordinating and managing the program BIPV- Building Integrated Photovolaics, industrial research program co-financed by Italian Ministry of Economic Development.

Paolo Di Nardo

Professor of Architecture, University of Florence

Biographical notesPaolo Di Nardo graduated in Florence in 1985 and achieved a Ph.D. in Architectural Design, at the same University.He coordinates a team that, for more than fifteen years, has participated in numerous architectural competitions in Italy and abroad gaining recognition and awards (Michelucci Fondaution award; Biennale Produzioni Culturali Giovanili dell’Europa Mediterranea award; Under40 Comune di Firenze award; Around50 award) and is carryng out his professional activity in the field of architectural and urban planning, with particular focus on the themes of perception and visual communication in architecture.In 2003 he founded the ARX studio with the aim of enabling the management of architectural ideation through a mutual exchange between research and achievement. ARX originated as a synthesis of all that professional competence taking part to the realization of architectural organisms to its completion. The planning involves interventions on various scales. Some of these architectural complexes have been the subject of project financing proposal currently in progress. ARX meets infrastructural, residential and architectural, and environmental requalification and sections of graphics and design themes. In 2004 his plan of Requalification of the Pescaia (weir) di San Niccolò at Florence (passages of Water and Stone) was selected for the Venice La Biennale di Architettura. In 2006 he won the International competition for the Polo Universitario ex Guidotti at Pisa with Roger Diener, Obermayer and Heliopolis 21. The extensive professional occupation of Paolo Di Nardo is further amplified by a strong university activity at the Florence Faculty of Architecture where he is lecturer of planning of the Laboratorio di Architettura II.He is, furthermore, the editorial director of the four-monthly magazine AND “Magazine of architecture, city and architects” based in Florence and published by DNA.